Bates Motel starts big, Continuum ends strong + 39 other genre shows

The Walking Dead was reliably great again this week, sure, but the bigger news might be A&E's Bates Motel, which stormed onto the schedule this week with very strong numbers. Meanwhile Continuum ended its first season on Syfy with solid ratings, Dragons: Riders of Berk got a huge boost for its season one sign-off, and Cult continue to struggle for The CW.

MONDAY, March 18th

Being Human (Syfy) 1.01 million viewers/0.4

Being Human lost a few viewers but held on to its ratings score for a pretty stable week.

Continuum (Syfy) 0.89 million viewers/0.3

Continuum dropped viewers but held on to its ratings score for a solid end to its first season. Season two is on the way.

Lost Girl (Syfy) 0.96 million viewers/0.4

Lost Girl also dropped viewers but held on to its ratings score to keep its demographic strength rolling.

Bates Motel (A&E) 3.04 million viewers/1.3

Bates Motel had a powerful premiere, putting up some of the best numbers its network has ever seen. But will it continue in week two?

Revolution (NBC) — OFF

Revolution will return to the list next week.

Shows on Hiatus

Teen Wolf (MTV) — Returns June 3 2013

Warehouse 13 (Syfy) — Returns April 2013

Tron: Uprising (Disney XD) — Returns Unknown

Canceled Shows

Alphas (Syfy)

WEDNESDAY, March 20thth

Arrow (CW) 3.02 million viewers/1.0/3 share

Arrow returned from nearly a month off to a very slight drop in viewers and a stable ratings score. This one's not going anywhere.

Dragons: Riders of Berk (TOON) 2.23 million viewers/0.7

Dragons got a huge boost, particularly to its demo score, for its season-one finale.

The Neighbors (ABC) 4.76 million viewers/1.4/4 share

The Neighbors basically broke even with the bad week it had last Wednesday. It's still probably safe, but we'll see how the rest of the season goes.

Supernatural (CW) 2.16 million viewers/1.0/3 share

Supernatural returned to a small boost in viewers and demo score for another good week.

Shows on Hiatus

Futurama (Comedy) — Returns 2013

American Horror Story (FX) — Returns Fall 2013

THURSDAY, March 21st

The Big Bang Theory (CBS) -- OFF

Person of Interest (CBS) -- OFF

Elementary (CBS) -- OFF

The Vampire Diaries (CW) 2.65 million viewers/1.3/4 share

The Vampire Diaries got a nice rebound this week after a weak outing last week. It's not as impressive as it used to be, but it remains The CW's top series.

Beauty and the Beast (CW) 1.72 million viewers/0.6/2 share

Beauty and the Beast got a nice viewers spike and its first ratings gain in a month. That's something it desperately needs if it's still going to be here next year.

Archer (FX) 1.36 million viewers/0.8

Archer picked up viewers and ratings for another solid week.

Shows on Hiatus

Saving Hope (NBC) — Returns Unknown

Wilfred (FX) — Returns 2013

Haven (Syfy) — Returns Unknown

Canceled Shows

Last Resort (ABC)

Zero Hour (ABC)

FRIDAY, March 22nd

Touch (FOX) 2.79 million viewers/0.7/2 share

Touch got a little boost this week, but probably not enough to save it.

Merlin (Syfy) -- OFF (Returns May 3)

Spartacus: War of the Damned (Starz) 1.09 million viewers/0.4

Spartacus gained viewers but dropped ratings. It's doing better than it was at the beginning of the season, but not by much.

Grimm (NBC) 5.00 million viewers/1.4/4 share

Grimm got a small boost in viewers and held on to its demo score for another good week.

Cult (CW) 0.73 million viewers/0.2/1 share

Cult basically broke even for another very weak airing.

Completed Shows

Fringe (FOX) — Run ended after five seasons

SATURDAY, March 23rd

Shows on Hiatus

Bedlam (BBC) — Returns Unknown

Doctor Who (BBC) — Returns March 30, 2013

Canceled Shows

Clone Wars (TOON)

SUNDAY, March 24th

Once Upon a Time (ABC) 7.38 million viewers/2.2/6 share

Once Upon a Time slipped again this week, but there's a good chance things will pick up closer to the season finale.

666 Park Avenue (ABC) — OFF

666 Park Avenue's final four episodes will show up this summer on ABC, then it's done.

The Walking Dead (AMC) 10.99 million viewers/5.4

The Walking Dead gained viewers but lost a tenth of a ratings point. It still won its night, but we're already looking to the season finale on Sunday. Last year's put up huge numbers, but this one will face off against the season premiere of Game of Thrones. Can The Walking Dead hit a new high yet again?

With The Walking Dead comic more than a decade into its run, and the hit AMC series heading into its sixth season, it’s hard to imagine the series ever actually ending. But creator Robert Kirkman is definitely working toward a finale — and his take on it might come as a bit of a surprise.